Elliot Formation

Elliot Formation
Stratigraphic range: Upper Triassic Lower Jurassic
Type Geological formation

The Elliot Formation is a geological formation dating to roughly 210 to 190 million years ago and covering the Norian to Sinemurian stages. The Elliot Formation is found in South Africa and Lesotho and is a member of the Stormberg Group. It consists mainly of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone. Fossils of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus have been recovered from the upper Elliot Formation.

Contents

Vertebrate fauna

[1]

Unidentified dinosaur eggs have been recovered from the formation.[2]

Ornithischia

An unnamed ornithischian genus has been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.[2] Geographically it was located in the Mafeteng district, Lesotho.[2] Ornithischian tracks have been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.[2] Geographically they were located in Leribe District,[1], Mafeteng district, and Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.[2] Possible indeterminate ornithischian remains have been reported from the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation of Cape Province, South Africa[1] and the Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.[2]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative data are in small text; crossed out data are discredited.
Ornithischian dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Abrictosaurus[2]

A. consors[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"[Two] skulls, [one] associated with fragmentary skeleton; material consisting of either male and female or adult and juvenile."[3]

The Qacha's Nek District remains were once considered Lycorhinus consors.[2]

Fabrosaurus[2]

F. australis[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Fragmentary dentary with teeth."[4]

Its remains are now considered indeterminate ornithischian.[2]

Heterodontosaurus[2]

H. tucki[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Indeterminate[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Lanasaurus

L. scalpridens
  • Upper Elliot

Now regarded as a junior synonym of Lycorhinus.

Lesothosaurus[1]

L. diagnosticus[1]
  • Upper Elliot

"At least [four] skulls and associated skeletal material."[5]

Lycorhinus[2]

L. angustidens[2]
  • Upper Elliot

"Isolated dentary maxillae."[3]

L. consors[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Split off as the type species of the new genus Abrictosaurus.

Sauropodomorpha

Prosauropod tracks have been found in the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation.[1][2] Geographically, these finds have been located in Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Mohales Hoek district, Quthing District,[2] and Maseru District, Lesotho.[1] Possible prosauropod tracks have been located in the Lower Elliot Formation. Geographically these were located in Cape Province, South Africa.[1]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative data are in small text; crossed out data are discredited.
Sauropodomorph dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Aardonyx

A. celestae
  • Upper Elliot

Aetonyx

A. palustris
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Cervicals, caudals, partial fore- and hindlimb."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Antetonitrus[1]

A. ingenipes[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Blikanasaurus[1]

B. cromptoni[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"Associated left tibia, fibula, tarsus, [and] pes."[7]

Dromicosaurus

D. gracilis
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Eucnemesaurus

E. fortis
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"Fragmentary skeleton."[6]

Euskelosaurus[1]

E. africanus
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"Vertebrae, ischia, incomplete ilia, tibiae and femora."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[1]

E. browni[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Indeterminate[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Gryponyx

G. africanus
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Vertebrae, both manus, pelvis and hindlimbs."[6]

A valid sauropodomorph genus and species.[8]

G. taylori
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Sacrals, pelvic girdle."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Indeterminate[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Hortalotarsus

H. skirtopodus
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Ignavusaurus[9]

I. rachelis[9]
  • Upper Elliot[9]

Leptospondylus

L. capensis
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Caudals."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Massospondylus[1]

M. browni
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Cervicals, dorsal, caudals, pedal elements."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

M. carinatus[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]
  1. Leribe remains "(=Gryponyx sp., Aetonyx sp.)"; Quthing remains "(including Gryponyx taylori)"[2]

M. harriesi
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Forelimb."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

M. schwarzi
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Indeterminate[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Melanorosaurus[1]

M. readi[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"[Three] partial skeletons, adult."[10]

M. thabanensis[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Femur, adult."[10]

Indeterminate[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Orinosaurus

O. capensis
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"Proximal tibia."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[1]

Pachyspondylus

P. orpenii
  • Upper Elliot[2]

"Fragmentary vertebrae."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Plateosaurus

P. cullingworthi
  • Lower Elliot[1]

"Partial skeleton."[6]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[1]

P. stormbergensis
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[1]

Thecodontosaurus

T. browni
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

T. minor
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[2]

Theropoda

Theropod tracks are stratigraphically located in both the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically, they are located in the Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Quthing District,[2] Maseru District and Mohales Hoek district,[1][2] Lesotho.[1]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative data are in small text; crossed out data are discredited.
Theropod dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Aliwalia[1]

A. rex[1]
  • Lower Elliot[1]

Partial femur and possible maxilla.[11]

Now known to be a chimera of Eucnemesaurus and a theropod mandible.

Megapnosaurus[2]

M. rhodesiensis[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

Note: Referred to as Syntarsus by Weishampel et al.[2]

Syntarsus[2]

S. rhodesiensis[2]
  • Upper Elliot[2]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Triassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 528–529. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Jurassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 535–536. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ^ a b "Table 18.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 394.
  4. ^ "Table 14.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 326.
  5. ^ "Table 14.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 326.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 236.
  7. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 261.
  8. ^ C. C. Vasconcelos, A. M. Yates (2004). Sauropodomorph biodiversity of the upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of southern Africa. Geoscience Africa, Abstract Volume 2:670.
  9. ^ a b c Knoll, Fabien (2010). "A primitive sauropodomorph from the upper Elliot Formation of Lesotho". Geological Magazine 147 (6): 814–829. doi:10.1017/S001675681000018X. http://www.foreignpolicybulletinmonitor.com/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7908827&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S001675681000018X. 
  10. ^ a b "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 235.
  11. ^ "Table 2.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 26.

References